Taiwan named 2016 must-visit destination by UK news site

2015/12/17

Taiwan is one of 12 emerging destinations travelers must visit in 2016, according to a recent article published by Business Insider U.K., a leading financial, media and technology news website.

Wilderness, wildlife and culture are the main travel themes of the year ahead, the report said, adding that Taiwan’s No. 6 spot on the list confirms an abundance of cultural treasures promising special experiences for those venturing to one of the less-visited parts of Asia.

“With a dazzling display of spring cherry blossoms, the best food in Asia and lush mountainous island setting, Taiwan is Asia’s best-kept secret.”

Describing Taiwan as a clean, green and peaceful island, the piece also lauded it as forward-thinking, progressive and a safe place where cultures and beliefs seamlessly co-exist.

Some of the local tourist draws highlighted in the article include Chinese Buddhism, a high-tech monastery in central Taiwan; the architecturally intricate temples at Sun Moon Lake; and Jiufen’s hilltop teahouses.

Taiwan’s burgeoning eco-tourism, fuelled by the passion of locals for conservation, nature and organic produce, as well as the ROC presidential election slated for Jan. 16, 2016, are equally impressive draws for intrepid travelers, the report said

The top destination on the list is Kyrgyzstan followed by Papua New Guinea; Mongolia; the Arctic: Iceland, Greenland and Norway; Madagascar; Iran; Uganda; Guyana; Gabon; Japan; and Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska.

Tourism Bureau statistics revealed that the number of foreign visitors to Taiwan topped 9.91 million in 2014, up 23.63 percent from the year before. The figure is projected to hit 10 million before the year-end.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240195&ctNode=2194&mp=9)